Page 166 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

166 airpower in 20 Century doCtrines and employment - national experienCes
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The Development of the UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

During the Yom Kippur War, Syrian missile batteries in Lebanon caused heavy
damages to Israeli fighter jets. As a result, Israel developed the first modern UAV -
unmanned aerial vehicle. The images provided by these UAV helped Israel to com-
pletely neutralize and destroy the Syrian Air defenses at the beginning of the 1982
Lebanon war resulting in no damage to the IAF. The IAF used again most of the
UAV systems in the second Lebanon war (2006) and in the Gaza war (2008).
The UAV developed specially for surveillance purposes with the ability to carry
weapons. Israel is a leader in this field and has succeeded in building short term air-
craft and also long term UAV capable of staying airborne for 24 hours or more.

The Strategic Arm of the State of Israel

The Israeli air force is seen by the leaders of Israel as the strategic defense arm of
the State. A large part of the defense budget is invested in the IAF, which enabled it
to purchase and operate the most advanced aircrafts in the world. In it serve air crews
and ground crews trained to the highest possible degree.
Over the years the IAF has participated in numerous operations (many of them
are still secret), which represent a colossal contribution to the security of Israel.
Many of the operations are taught in military academies world-wide and the IAF is
highly rated among the most advanced air forces in the world.
The Israel air force is in a constant state of readiness 24 hours a day to defend the
skies and the space of the country and its population, being able to act at very short
notice to any mission that may be demanded of it.

UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle –
RQ-2 developed in the Israeli Aircraft
Industry.